Decorticating machine



5 sneaks-sh et 1 INVENTOR osepzelzflrcjflb "11W ATTORNEY I BY LZ-Wa J. J. MARCZAK DECORTICATI'NG MACHINE Filed Oct. 17, 1938 I'll-Ill QQN QWN

Dec. 5, 1939.

Dec. 5, 1939. J. J. MARCZAK DECORTICATING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1938 Jseflz 11710111307:

Dec. 5, 1939. J. J. MARCZAK DECORTICATING r'mcnnm Filed Oct. 17, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 5, 1939 aren't orrics DEOORTIOATING MACHINE Joseph Julius Marczak, Bigpoint, Miss.

Application October 1'7, 1938, Serial No. 235,533

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for decorticating ramie stalks.

It has been proposed to treat the bark of the ramie stalks with. a chemical for removing the gum and for causing disintegration of the bark to recover the fibres by means of a chemical solution and in connection with mechanical means. However, during the chemical treatment the fibres are afiected by the chemicals in the solu- 1171101). so that not only a distintegration of the the stalks are boiled in clear water after which the stalks are placed longitudinally upon an elongated machine where they are clamped in position upon a table and moved toward a movable clamping device which will fix the larger ends of the stalks to a traveling base member so that when the member is moved away from the clamping table the woody portions of the stalks or core are withdrawn from the bark which is maintained in position by the uniform pressure upon the bark so that the stalks are withdrawn from the bark. However, the bark is then passed between rollers having a surface sufiiciently roughened which will remove the outer dark bark. The bark which has thus been stripped is then placed in vats and boiled in clear water to remove not only the gum but also the coloring matter, the fibres being then washed if necessary in a soapy solution clearv water whereby clear white fibres are obtained.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine having means for clamping a plurality of stalks in juxtaposition while maintaintaining uniform pressure on the stalks so that when thestallis are moved to a device for gripping the larger ends of the stalks and this device is moved away from the clamping means the stalks will be withdrawn from the bark which is maintained in a fixed clamping position in the clamping means, the clamping means being moved towards the gripping device by either a manually or power driven mechanism, the gripping device being moved with uniform speed away from the clamping means when the stalks are being withdrawn from the bark.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine for distintegrating ramie stalks, in whichthe stalks are uniformly clamped in position on a movable table of the machine so that when the woody portions of the clamped stalks are moved longitudinally of the machine by a gripping device the woody portions of the stalks will be withdrawn from the clamping table leaving thebark in, its initial position on the table, the gripping device being so constructed that when the ends of the bark covered stalks are forced between a pair of jaws of the gripping device the bark will be pushed backwardly after which the jaws of the gripping device are moved to an operative clamping position on the free ends of the woody portions of the stalks, a pair of rollers having the surfaces roughened applying pressure to the bark when the bark is drawn through said rollers after the woody stalks have been removed in order to roughen the surface of the bark so that the dark exterior portions of the bark will be loosened and removed before the bark is placed in vats containing clear water for the removal of gum and other foreign matter from the fibres, the gripping device when moved into engagement with the inner free ends of the stalks raising one of the rollers and retaining the same in an inoperative position.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, nevertheless; it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications as define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal plan view of my decorticating machine.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal side view of the same.

holding the stalks when the stalks are pulled from the bark.

Figure 8 is a View in perspective of the upper gripping jaws.

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is an enlarged vertical section showing the gripping jaws in engagement with the ends of the stalks just before the stalks are withdrawn from the bark.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical section in the neighborhood of the gripping jaws showing the jaws in further movement away from the clamping table.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical section similar to that shown in Figure 11 showing the advanced stage of the withdrawal of the stalks from the bark.

Figure 13 is an enlarged vertical section similar to that shown in Figures 11 and 12 showing the clamping table being moved away from the gripping jaws with the removed bark being drawn between a pair of rollers.

Figure 14 is an enlarged vertical section similar to that shown in Figures 11 to 13, inclusive, disclosing the bark being withdrawn from the clamping member.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section showing the advanced stages of the withdrawal of the bark.

Figure 16 is a horizontal section taken along the line [23-46 of Figure 3.

Figure 17 is a vertical section taken along the line l'l|'l of Figure 1.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section showing the atomatic connection between a removable gripping jaw and a base mem ber supporting a pivoted jar.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that a pair of longitudinally disposed beams 20 and 2! are located at each side of the machine and these beams are supported by legs 22, 23 and 24. The beams at their opposite ends are connected by means of bars 25 located at each end of the frame.

A pair of spaced angle ironsBil have one flange 3| secured to the inner face of a beam 2!] or 2|, while the other flange 32 extends outwardly at right angles to the first mentioned flange and forms a track for a clamping table generally designated by the numeral 33.

The table 33 is provided with depending brace bars 34 and 35. The bars 34 are provided with ro lers 36 which rest on the flanges 32 of the angle irons 30.

A rack 31 is secured to the bottom of the bar 35 and meshes with a gear wheel 38 which is fixed to a shaft 39. This shaft has bearings 40 which are secured to the bottom face of the beams 20 and 2!. A crank It is secured to the outer end of the shaft whereby the shaft may be manually rotated.

Bars 43 extend upwardly from the opposite ends of the clamping plate 42 and are rigidly secured to said plate. A rod 44 is secured to the upper edge of each bar 63 and extends beyond the opposite ends of said bar. One end of each rod shown at 45 (Fig. 3) is provided with a hook adapted to engage over a rod 46 for supporting the clamping plate 42 in a horizontal position. The opposite end of each rod M is provided with a bearing 41 that is received by a rod til. A handle 49 secured to the outer face of the plate 42 provides means for raising one end of the plate so that it will swing upon its bearings 41 on the rod 48 whereby the plate may be raised from the table 33.

It will be noted that the bottom face 56 of the plate 42 is roughened or corrugated and the upper surface of the table 33 is likewise roughened or corrugated as shown at 5! in order to provide for frictional gripping upon the bark of the stalks.

The rods 45 and 48 are secured to vertically disposed bars 55 and 56 and these rods are slidably mounted respectively in bearings 51 and 58 secured to the outer faces of the legs 23 to provide for reciprocation of the rods 55 and 55 at opposite sides of the frame so that the clamping plate 42 may be elevated or lowered as will be presently explained.

A pair of latch members 60 are pivotally mounted at 6| on the under face of the rods 44 adjacent the movable end of the plate 42 and are adapted to be moved by means of pivotally mounted handles 52 beneath the rod 48 for locking the clamping plate to the rod.

A pair of rods 63 are located adjacent each bearing 5'. or 58 at opposite sides of the frame and these rods at their upper ends are provided with hooks 64 which engage over the respective rods 35 and 48.

An I-shaped frame generally designated by the numeral 65 consists of a pair of end bars 66 and a transverse bar 61. The bars 66 are located longitudinally of the frame and between the legs 23 at each side of the frame. The ends of the transverse bar 61 are rigidly secured to the intermediate portions of the bars 66. The frame is adapted to be reciprocated vertically in a manner which will be presently described.

Four rods 68 have their upper ends bolted as shown at 69 to the end of the bars 66 and these rods or wires extend downwardly toward a common center and each wire is provided with an eye 75 received by a bolt 1i carried by the upper ends of the links '12 which are pivotally connected at 13 with a lever 14.

t will be noted that the lower ends of the rods 53 have right angular portions 15 which are bolted at 16 to the ends of the side bars 66.

A lever 14 is pivotally mounted at 11 on one side of the frame and extends to the opposite side and projects beyond the same as shown at 18 to form a treadle. A U-shaped member '19 embraces the treadle l8 and is secured thereto as shown at 80. An operating arm 8| with a pawl 82 is pivotally mounted at 83 within the bight portion of the U-shaped member [9. The free end of the pawl is adapted to engage a rack 84 carried by the reinforcing beam 85. It will be noted that a reinforcing beam is located at each side of the frame and connected between the legs 23. A spring 86 urges the member 8| upwardly so that the pawl 82 engages the teeth of the rack 84 and maintains the treadle 18 and the lever 14 in a lowered position when the lever is depressed until released by the pawl 82.

A spring 86 is located in each guide member (Figs. 2 and 3) which at all times urges the rods 4! upwardly for raising the clamping member 42 out of engagement with the table 33.

In Figure 1 it will be seen that the ramie stalks extend beyond the ends of the table and the clamping member 42 and the table is longer than the clamping member. However, the inner ends of the stalks as shown in Figure 1, extend only slightly beyond the inner end of the table 33.

A pair of chain belts 9| are carried by a pair of sprockets 92 at the outer end of the machine and these sprockets are secured to a shaft 03 which carries a roller 34. The inner ends of the chains are trained on sprockets -95 and. 96. secured to a shaft 91 or shaft 07 A gear wheel 98 is secured to one end of the shaft 91 outwardly of the sprocket 95 and is adapted to be rotated manually by means of a crank 03. v

A gear I mounted upon a stub shaft IOI which is carried by a vertically disposed bar I02 secured to'the right hand side of the frame in Figure 1 and more particularly shown atthe left hand side in Figure 4, meshes with the gear 98. p

A gear I03 is secured to the inner end of the shaft WI and at the inner face of the bar I02 (Figs. 4 and 6).

A gear I 05 is secured to the inner end of a shaft I06 to which is secured a pulley I07 driven by a power belt 06.

Abell crank lever I I0 is pivotally mounted on a shaft IOI and is provided with an operating rod III at the lower free end for oscillating the bell crank. An arm H2 of this bell crank is provided with an angular extension H3 upon which is rotatably mounted a gear I I4 adapted to mesh with the gear I05. At the junction between the arm I I2 and the extension I I3 is mounteda shaft II5 upon which is rotatably mounted a gear II6 which is adapted to mesh at certain times with the gear I03'and with the gear I05. The gear I I4 is always in mesh with the gear I I6.

In Figure 6 the gears I I 4 and I I6 are respectively in mesh with the gear I05 and the gear I03. When the lower arm of the bell crank lever Ill] is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 6, the gear I I6 will roll on the gear I53 and be brought into mesh with the gear I05, while the gear II4 will be moved out of mesh with the gear I05 so that it will idly revolve when the gear H6 directly-connects the gears I03 and I 05. This arrangement is such that when the gears I03, I05 and H6 are in mesh the gear I03 will be revolved in one direction while when the bell crank lever I I0 is moved in the oppositedirection, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 6, the gears will be in the position shown in Figure 6 and the gear I03 will be reversely rotated. This arrangement has been provided so that the chain 5| can be moved in opposite directions for a purpose which will be presently explained.

A device is provided generally indicated by the numeral I (Fig. 1) for gripping the inner ends of the stalks 90 so that the stalks per se may be drawn in the direction indicatedb-y the arrow in Figure 1 away from the clamping table 33 so that the bark of the stalks will be held by the .clamping table after the woody portion of the stalks have been removed.

This clamping arrangement consists of a jaw I 2I (Fig. 8) which is carried by a pair of arms I22 and these arms are connected by a bight portion I23 at their outer ends. These arms are pivotally mounted (Figs. 10 and 11) on a shaft 24 on the upper ends of brackets I25 which are secured to a table I26 extending transversely of the frame.

The outer ends of the table I26 are 10- zontal plane when it is drawn alongthe frame by the chains. I

A plurality of complementary clamping jaws I3I, I3 I and I3I are placed in superimposed relation at one side of the shaft 91. The upper faces of each of these jaws are corrugated as shown at I32 as isthe under face of the jaw I2I as shown at I33 (Figs. 7 and 8). The ends of these jaws as shown in Figures 9 to 1l,-inc1usive, are located in guides I33 secured to the inner face of the side bars 20 (Fig. 4). The rear walls I34 of these guides (Figs. 10 and 11) are shorter than the front wall so that these movable clamping jaws I3I may be withdrawn from the guides when the upper ends of the guides are open. Each of the guides includes a rear wall I34, a front'wall I35, bottom I36 and side walls I31. A coil spring I38 rests upon the bottom I36 in each guide and these springs tend to force the superimposed movable jaws I3 I outwardly of the guides and towards the jaw I2I.

The-rear wall 134 of each guide is provided with a slot through which rides an arm I and a catch MI is formed on the end of each arm adapted to engage a catch I42 which projects from the frontend of the table I26. It will be noted that there is a catch adjacent each end of the clamping jaw I3I and at each end of the table I26. The slots are indicated by the numeral'l43 (Fig. ,9).

Each of the clamping jaws I3I are provided with grooves I45 in the bottom face thereof and adjacent the catches I4I. These grooves are adapted to receive projections I46 (Figs. 9 and 16) extending from the front end of the table I23 for supporting the jaws I3I when the table I26 is moved longitudinally of the frame and when the jaws I3I are drawn along with the table by the catches I M and I42. The opposite ends of the jaws I3I are guided within grooves I4! formed in the longitudinal side beams 20. The ends of the table I26 are also guided in these grooves so that the jaw I3I will be maintained in longitudinal alinement with said table. i

The jaw- IZ I is maintained'in gripping relation with the ends of the woody portions of the stalks by means of pawls I50 which are pivotally connected at I5l to the arm I22 of the U-shaped member (Fig. 9). These pawls have pivotal connections at I52 with arms I53 of the second U- shaped member I54. The last mentioned U- shaped member is slidable in guides I55 secured to the arms I22. A spring I56 is connected to the bight portion of the U-shaped member I54 and the opposite end of the spring is connected to a rod I51 which is in turn connected to the shaft I24 upon which the arms I22 are pivotally mounted. The spring I56 tends to-pull the U-shaped member I55 inwardly for maintaining the free ends of the pawls I50 in engagement with teeth of a pair of racks I58 which are located below the free ends of said pawls. Thus; it will be seen that when the U-shaped member I22 is forced to its uppermost position the jaw I2! will be clamped onto the ends of the stalks and the'ends of the stalks will be clamped between the jaws I 2| and I3I.

Springs I60 which are connected between the U-shaped member I22 and the table I26 will pull down on the U-shaped member when the pawl I50 is out of engagement with the teeth of the rack I50 and maintain the jaw I2! in open posi tion.

A pair of rollers I and I66 are mounted adjacent the guides for the jaws I3I and in spaced relation therewith. The roller I65 is'carried by a pair of arms I61 and these arms are pivotally mounted in the vertical bars I02. The outer ends of the arms I61 carries a shaft I68 upon which the roller I65 is secured.

One end of the shaft I68 is provided with a gear I69 which meshes with a gear I16 mounted on a stub shaft I1I carried by the side frame so that when the gear I will be revolved the roller I65 will likewise be revolved when the gear I69 is in its lowermost position and in meshing relation with the gear I10. A crank I12 is secured to the gear I10 for manually rotating the gear when desired.

A gear I secured to a shaft I16 is in mesh with the gear I10 and a gear I11 is secured to the inner end of the shaft I16 and is adapted to revolve said shaft. A gear I 18 is secured to a shaft I19 and this shaft in turn is revolved by a pulley I80 driven by a belt I8I.

A pair of gears similar to the gears H4 and H6 together with a bell crank III] and its operating parts are associated with the gears H1 and I18 in a similar manner to the association of the gears I03 and I05 with the gears H4 and H6 so that the gear I11 may be revolved and likewise the gear I15 in opposite directions for rotating the gear I10 in opposite directions for a purpose which will be presently explained. Shafts I16 and I19 are carried by a vertically disposed bar I82.

On the outer end of a shaft I85 which drives a roller I66 is secured a gear I86 which meshes with a gear I81 secured to the shaft I68 whereby the roller I66 will be driven when the roller I65 is revolved when the roller I 65 is in its lowermost position.

A pair of inclined rods I88 are carried by the table I26 and are adapted to have their inner ends so positioned that they will move between the rollers I65 and I66 and as the table I26 is moved to the left in Figure 9 the upper rollers I65 will be raised and supported by the arms I61. The object of raising the rollers at this time is to place the roller I 65 in a position so that the clamping jaw I2I may be properly positioned with respect to the clamping jaw I3I for clamping the ramie stalks to the table. The various movements of the roller I65 are shown in Figures 9 and 10.

Referring more particularly to Figure 3 it will be seen that a rest or support I90 is secured to the side of the supporting frame for the machine and adjacent the movable clamping member 42 so that when the clamping member is elevated it can be moved backwardly against the support and retained in position while the stalks are being placed upon the clamping table 33.

The operation of my device is as follows: The ramie stalks are out while the bark is green and they are placed in vats where the stalks are boiled in pure water until the bark becomes completely loose on the woody portions of the stalks. They are then removed from the vat and placed on the clamping table 33 while still moist and the top clamping member 42 is then lowered away from the rest I90 until the hooks 45 of the bars 44' rest upon the bar 46. The latches 60 are then moved into locking position for connecting the clamping member 42 to the bar 46. After this the treadle 18 is then depressed as will be the lever 14 and the rods or wires 68 will pull downwardly upon the I-beam 65 and cause the clamping member 42 to exert pressure on the stalks on the table 33.

The crank I4 is then revolved as will be the shaft 39 so that the gear wheel 38 will move the rack 31 and likewise the table 33 towards the gripping device composed of the pivoted jaw I2I and the uppermost removable jaw I3I midway of the machine. The jaw I2I is normally elevated by the action of the spring I60 which pulls downwardly on the U-shaped member l22a. As the inner ends of the stalks are forced between the jaws the bark on said stalks is forced rearwardly so that when the U-shaped member I 22a is elevated the jaw I2I will be forced downwardly on to the woody portion of the stalk and the pawl I58 will retain the jaw I2I in clamped position on the stalks.

It will be appreciated that the U-shaped member I22a must be moved towards the left in Figs. 1 and 2 until the jaw I2I is located directly above the jaw I3I When the U-shaped member is being moved to this position the inclined member I88 (Fig. 9) will engage the ends of the shaft I68 and thus raise the roller I65 out of operative relation with the roller I66.

The stalks are now in position to be drawn to- Wards the right in Figs. 1 and 2 for pulling the woody portions of the stalks away from the bark which is clamped on the table 33.

eferring more particularly to Figs. 5 and 6 it will be seen that it is necessary to oscillate the bell crank lever I I0 so that the various gears I03, I I6 and I05 will be in meshing relation for causing rotation of the shaft 91 and movement of the chains BI and 9| a through the sprockets 95 and 96. Since the base member I26 is connected to the chains the base member together with the gripping elements composed of the jaws I2I and I 3| will be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 whereby the woody portions of the stalks will be withdrawn from the bark and this bark will be retained on the clamping table 33. After the stalks have been removed they are thrown to one side and the bell crank III) is shifted in the oppositte direction so that the chains will be driven in a reverse path for returning the base member I26 and the jaw I2I back to the initial position for clamping the ends of the shells of the bark between the jaw I2I and the next uppermost gripping jaw I3Ia. The jaw I3I which was employed for gripping the woody portion of the stalks in connection with the jaw I3I is removed at the end of the machine and is again returned to the vertically disposed guide members I33.

As has been explained each gripping jaw I3I is connected to the base member I 26 through the automatic catches MI and I42. The jaws I3I are also held in horizontal alignment with the base member I 26 by the projections I 46 which extend forwardly of the base member I26. Figs. 10 to 15, inclusive, show the various steps for drawing the bark through the rollers I65 and I66 and these rollers have roughened surfaces for removing the dark portions of the bark from the shells of the bark after the woody portion has been removed. As shown in Fig. 12 the bark per se of each stalk is clamped between the jaws I2I and I3I and the lever H0 is oscillated for throwing the proper gears into mesh to cause outward movement of the base member I26 and the cooperating jaws I2I and I3I which are clamped on the bark. At this time the bark is pulled between the rollers as has been explained for the removal of the outer covering. During the drawing of the bark from the clamping table 33 the flat spring member 250, connected at 26I to the beams 20 and 2|, will act as a support for the bark at this time.

The rollers I65 and I66 are positively driven by either the crank I12 revolving the gear I or 5 these gears may be power driven through the pulley I80, the gears I11I18 and the shaft I85.

The gears may be reversely rotated by oscillating the arm I61 for causing the reversal of the rotation of the shaft I85 and likewise the gear I15.

The bark after the dark portions have been removed in this manner is then again placed in tanks and either boiled in clear water or a soapy solution for the removal of gum and the green coloring matter of the bark. At no time during the process is the bark allowed to dry. Furthermore, fermentation is not allowed to set in because during such treatment the bark becomes mildewed and the fibers become discolored.

When the basemember I26 reaches the roller 94 said base member will pass over the roller and be inverted unless the driving chains are stopped. If the base member I 26 passes over and below the roller the gripping jaw I3I will be released from its support and it will drop away from the ma- ,30 ment and return the table to the initial position of operation adjacent the clamping table. A basket may be placed below the roller 94 so that as the gripping jaws I3I are released they will fall in the basket and these jaws are then returned to the guides I3I manually.

' It will be noted that when the jaws I3I are drawn in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 they are being supported at all times by the projections I46 which are received by the slots I formed in the underfaces of the jaws 'I3I. Therefore when the table is reversed in position as it travels over the roller 94 the gripping jaws I3I will no longer be supported and they will fall away from the machine.

I claim:

1. A decorticating machine comprising a slidably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on the table, a stalk gripping means having a pair of clamping jaws spaced from one end of said table, means for moving the table towards the gripping means so that the adjacent ends of the woody portions of the stalks may be clamped between the jaws of the gripping means, means retaining the table against further movement when located adjacent the gripping means, means causing the jaws to be clamped on to the ends of the stalks, and means moving the jaws away from the table and the woody portions of the stalks from the bark, the bark being held on the table by the movable clamping means.

2. A decorticating machine comprising a slidably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on the table,

a stalk gripping means having a pair of clamping jaws spaced from one end of said table, means for moving the table towards the gripping means, said gripping means including stationary guides, a removable jaw mounted in the guides, a movable base member, a second jaw pivoted on said base member, the adjacent ends of the woody portions of the stalks adapted to be clamped between the jaws, means retaining the jaws in clamped relation, cooperating means on the base 75 members and removable jaw for connecting said jaw to the base member, and means causing the base member and jaws to be moved away from the table whereby the woody portions of the stalks are withdrawn from the bark clamped on the table.

3. A decorticating machine comprising a slidably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on the table, a stalk gripping means having a pair of clamping jaws spaced from one end of said table, means for moving the table towards the gripping means, said gripping means including stationary guides, a removable jaw mounted in the guides, a movable base member, a second jaw pivoted on said base member, the adjacent ends of the woody portions of the stalks adapted to be clamped between the jaws, ineans retaining the jaws in clamped relation, interlocking catches on the base member and removable jaw for removably connecting said jaw to said base member, and means causing the base member and jaws to be moved away from the table whereby the woody portions of the stalks are withdrawn from the bark clamped on the table.

4. A decorticating machine comprising a slidably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on thetable, a stalk gripping means having a pair ,of clamping jaws spaced from one end of said ing the jaws in clamped relation, catch members on the base member and removable jaw adapt- ,ed to automatically interlock when the base member is -,moved into operative position with the removable jaw.

5. A decorticating machine comprising a slidvably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on the :table, a stalk gripping means having a pair of clamping jaws spaced from one end of said table, means for moving the table towards the gripping means, said gripping means including stationary guides, a plurality of removable jaws located in the guides, a base member, a pivoted jaw on the base member, a spring urging the uppermost jaw into horizontal alinement with base member. away from the table for withdrawing the woody portions out of the bark retained on the clamping table.

6. A decorticating machine comprising a slidably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on the table, a stalk gripping means having a pair of clamping jaws spaced from one end of said, table,

means for moving the table towards the gripping means, said gripping means including stationary guides, a removable jaw mounted in the guides, a movable base member, a second jaw pivoted on said base member, the adjacent ends of the woody portions of the stalks adapted to be clamped between the jaws, means retaining the jaws in clamped relation, cooperating means on the base members and removable jaw for con-,

meeting said jaw to the base member, and means causing the base member and jaws to be moved away from the table whereby the Woody portions of the stalks are withdrawn from the bark clamped on the table, and means for causing the moving means for the base member to re turn to its initial position.

7. A decorticating machine comprising a slidably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on the table, a stalk gripping means having a pair of clamping jaws spaced from one end of said table, means for moving the table towards the gripping means so that the adjacent ends of the woody portions of the stalks may be clamped between the jaws of the gripping means, means causing the jaws to be clamped onto the ends of the stalks, and means moving the jaws away from the table and the woody portions of the stalks from the bark, the bark being held on the table by the movable clamping means, means for causing the moving means for the jaws to return said jaws to the clamping table after the woody portions of the stalks have been released, said gripping jaws adapted to clamp the adjacent ends of the bark therebetween, roughing rollers through which the bark is drawn.

8. A decorticating machine comprising a slidably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on the table, a stalk gripping means having a pair of clamping jaws spaced from one end of said table, means for moving the table towards the gripping means so that the adjacent ends of the Woody portions of the stalks may be clamped between the jaws of the gripping means, means causing the jaws to be clamped onto the ends of the stalks, and means moving the jaws away from the table and the woody portions of the stalks from the bark, the bark being held on the table by the movable clamping means, means for causing the moving means for the jaws to return said jaws to the clamping table after the woody portions of the stalks have been released, said gripping jaws adapted to clamp the adjacent ends of the bark therebetween, roughing rollers through which the bark is drawn, and means carried by the base member for separating the rollers when said base member is moved adjacent the removable jaw.

9. A decorticating machine comprising a slidably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on the table, a stalk gripping means having a pair of clamping jaws spaced from one end of said table, means for moving the table towards the gripping means, said gripping means including stationary guides, a removable jaw mounted in the guides, a movable base member, a second jaw pivoted on said base member, the adjacent ends of the woody portions of the stalks adapted to be clamped between the jaws, means retaining the jaws in clamped relation, cooperating means on the base members and removable jaw for connecting said jaw to the base member, and means causing the base member and jaws to be moved away from the table whereby the woody portions of the stalks are withdrawn from the bark clamped on the table, and tracks for guiding the base member and connected removable jaw in the same plane.

10. A decorticating machine comprising a slidably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on the table, a stalk gripping means having a pair of clamping jaws spaced from one end of said table, means for moving the table towards the gripping means said gripping means including stationary guides, a removable jaw mounted in the guides, a movable base member, a second jaw pivoted on said base member, the adjacent ends of the woody portions of the stalks adapted to be clamped between the jaws, means retaining the jaws in clamped relation, cooperating means on the base members and removable jaw for connecting said jaw to the base member, and means causing the base member and jaws to be moved away from the table whereby the woody portions of the stalks are withdrawn from the bark clamped on the table, the removable jaw being provided with transverse slots, the base member having extensions adapted to project into the slots when said jaw is connected to the base member.

11. A decorticating machine comprising a slidably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on the table, a stalk gripping means having a pair of clamping jaws spaced from one end or said table, means for moving the table towards the gripping means so that the adjacent ends of the woody portions of the stalks may be clamped between the jaws of the gripping means, means causing the jaws to be clamped onto the ends of the stalks, and means moving the jaws away from the table and the woody portions of the stalks from the bark, the bark being held on the table by the movable clamping means, rods connected to the movable clamping means, guides for the rods, a pivotally mounted treadle, means connecting the ends of the rods to the treadle for forcing the clamping means onto the table.

12. A decorticating machine comprising a slidably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on the table, a stalk gripping means having a pair of clamping jaws spaced from one end of said table, means for moving the table towards the gripping means so that the adjacent ends of the woody portions of the stalks may be clamped between the jaws of the gripping means, means causing the jaws to be clamped on to the ends of the stalks, and means moving the jaws away from the table and the woody portions of the stalks from the bark, the bark being held on the table by the movable clamping means, rods connected to the movable clamping means, guides for the rods, a pivotally mounted treadle, means connecting the ends of the rods to the treadle for forcing the clamping means onto the table, and means retaining the movable clamping means in clamped position on the table.

13. A decorticating machine comprising a slidably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on the table, a stalk gripping means having a pair of clamping jaws spaced from one end of said table, means for moving the table towards the gripping means so that the adjacent ends of the woody portions of the stalks may be clamped between the jaws of the gripping means, means causing the jaws to be clamped onto the ends of the stalks, and means moving the jaws away from the table and the woody portions of the stalks from the bark, the bark being held on the table by the movable clamping means, means for causing the moving means for the jaws to return said jaws to the clamping table after the woody portions of the stalks have been released, said gripping jaws adapted to clamp the adjacent ends of the bark therebetween, roughing rollers through which the bark is drawn, means hingedly mounting one of the rollers so that it will swing away from the other roller, and means for revolving the rollers.

14. A decorticating machine comprising a slidably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on the table, a stalk gripping means having a pair of clamping jaws spaced from one end of said table,,means for moving the table towards the gripping means, said gripping means including stationary guides, a removable jaw mounted in the guides, a movable base member, a second jaw pivoted on said base member, the adjacent ends of the woody portions of the stalks adapted to be clamped between the jaws, means retaining the jaws in clamped relation, cooperating means on the base members and removable jaw for connecting said jaw to the base member, and means causing the base member and jaws to be moved away from the table whereby the woody portions of the stalks are withdrawn from the bark clamped on the table, a U-shaped '15. A decorticating machine comprising a slidably mounted clamping table, a movable means for clamping the bark covered stalks on the table,

a stalk gripping means having a pair of clamping jaws spaced from one end of said table, means for moving the table towards the gripping means, said gripping means including stationary guides, a removable jaw mounted in the guides, a movable base member, a second jaw pivoted on said base member, the adjacent ends of the woody portions of the stalks adapted to be clamped between the jaws, means retaining the jaws in clamped relation, cooperating means on the base members and removable jaw for connecting said jaw to the base member, and means causing the base member and jaws to be moved away from the table whereby the woody portions of the stalks are withdrawn from the bark clamped on the table, a U-shaped mem-' ber pivotally mounted on the base member and having the free ends of the legs thereof connected to the pivoted jaw, a second U-shaped member slidably mounted on the first U-shaped member for releasing the retaining means for the pivoted clamping jaw.

JOSEPH JULIUS MARCZAK. 

